Head of Customer Controls in Manchester

At AJ Bell, we are committed to delivering straightforward, high-quality services that help customers invest with confidence. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a Head of Customer Controls to play a key leadership role in strengthening control oversight, customer outcomes and operational governance across our Customer Services function. This is a senior leadership role reporting to the Customer Services Director, with responsibility for building and leading a robust customer controls framework that supports operational efficiency, regulatory compliance and fair customer outcomes.

You will combine strategic oversight with hands-on leadership, working closely with senior stakeholders across Customer Services, Risk, Compliance, Finance and Change to ensure our controls environment remains effective, proportionate and fit for the future.

What you will be doing:

• Leading the development and ongoing enhancement of our Customer Controls function, ensuring strong governance, meaningful reporting and effective control oversight across Customer Services activity.
• Leading and developing the Customer Controls framework, ensuring key risks, controls, ownership and assurance activity are clearly defined and maintained.
• Providing oversight of customer-related regulatory obligations, including complaint handling, Consumer Duty, vulnerable customer processes and customer communications.
• Managing the Operational Fraud Team, providing leadership across fraud prevention, detection, case oversight and escalation.
• Designing and delivering a proportionate assurance programme, including control testing, quality checks and remediation tracking.
• Developing clear, insightful MI to support senior management, committees and board reporting.
• Ensuring risks, incidents and control weaknesses are identified early, escalated appropriately and addressed effectively.
• Partnering with Finance to monitor budgets, efficiency measures and operational performance across Customer Services.
• Supporting operational change by embedding controls into new processes, systems and customer journeys.
• Leading continuous improvement activity to strengthen controls, reduce risk and improve customer outcomes.

What we are looking for:

• Strong operational controls leadership experience in a regulated financial services environment, ideally within investments, pensions, wealth or platform services.
• Proven experience leading risk, controls, quality assurance or operational oversight teams.
• Strong understanding of FCA expectations relevant to customer operations, including Consumer Duty and complaint handling.
• Experience building governance frameworks, assurance plans and control reporting.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively at senior level.
• Excellent analytical and reporting capability, with strong MI and data interpretation skills.
• Confidence translating complex control issues into clear actions and decisions.
• Strong written communication skills, including production of governance papers and senior reporting.
• Experience managing teams and developing capability within a control environment.
• Relevant professional qualifications such as ICA, CISI or CII would be beneficial, although equivalent practical experience is equally valued.

About AJ Bell:

AJ Bell is one of the UK's fastest-growing investment platform businesses, providing award-winning solutions for everyone, from professional financial advisers to first-time investors. Today, over 723,000 customers trust us to manage more than £108.7 billion of assets. By continually striving to make investing simpler and more accessible, we are helping more people take control of their financial futures. We are proud to be recognised as one of the UK's Best 100 Companies to Work For for six consecutive years, and a Great Place to Work in 2025 and 2026, a reflection of our supportive and collaborative culture.

What we offer:

• 28 days holiday, increasing with service + buy/sell scheme + bank holidays.
• 8% Pension with matched contributions.
• Discretionary bonus scheme.
• Share schemes (including free shares and BAYE).
• Health Cash Plan and discounted private healthcare.
• Free onsite gym.
• Enhanced family leave (subject to qualifying criteria).
• Travel and bike loan schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme.

Life at AJ Bell:

• Regular social events including summer and Christmas parties.
• Learning and development opportunities tailored to you.
• Casual dress code.
• Friendly, supportive team environment.

Our ways of working:

We offer hybrid working, with a minimum of 50% of your working time per month spent in the office. For new starters, there is an initial period of full-time office working to help you settle in and build relationships.

Inclusion & diversity:

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and able to be themselves at work. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and make hiring decisions based on skills, experience and potential.